“I fear that she buried it all as an escape to keep surviving. Burying the past...something I have always craved to do but haven't been able to achieve, but she was able to do it. As she stood that morning and vented all her anger out on me, I found out exactly what burying it all could do to us. The monster it could create. I learned that morning that burying the past is not the answer. Treating it like it never happened is not the solution. Without the past, we don't really have anything. It is the past that shapes the present. It is the past that shaped us into the people we are today. So instead of trying to bury it like it never happened, we should overcome it.” He turned then and faced Danka. Her eyes met his chest at the close proximity between them.
He continued. “Overcome it. Heal from it. And grow stronger than it. After my visit to Vetta, it made me realize a lot of things. I never forgot the past, but I can overcome it...heal from it. And it's all because of you.”
“Me?” Pulling back, she stared up at him.
His head bobbed once. Then his hand rose and rested on her cheek. “You. It was all because of you.” A pause. “Thank you so much, Danika.”
She had no idea why he thanked her so much, but Danka smiled at him and nodded. “You're welcome, my king.”
“You have been up for so long. It is unhealthy. It's not good for you or the baby. Go back to bed, Danika,” he said.
She had to admit that she felt sleepy in the last few minutes. Stifling a yawn, she stared at the bed a few feet behind her. “Come to bed with me.”
His eyes found his table. Danika didn't think it was possible, but he looked sadder as his eyes rested on the unfinished scroll lying on one part of the table. Then he shook his head. “I have to finish up with work. It's a message. I need the messenger to send it out to the several kingdoms on the morrow.”
“What is the message all about?” she asked softly.
Jaws locked, he looked away. “Nothing of great importance. Go and sleep. I will join you later.”
The stubborn lock of his jaw told her that he wouldn't be saying anything else about the 'work', so she accepted his words with a nod. “Alright, my king.”
She had no idea when she grew accustomed to that kiss on the forehead and the belly, which he always gave her in private whenever they were about to part ways, but as she waited for that small little gesture and it wasn't forthcoming, she swallowed her disappointment.
If he wouldn't reach for her, she would reach for him. She took a step closer and kissed his chest lingeringly. It was almost not visible, but she felt him recoil. “Good night, Lucien,” she whispered as she pulled back, her heart heavy for him. For herself. For the mistress. “I'll be waiting for you in bed.”
“Okay.”
She pulled back then and walked to the bed.
“Danika?”
“Yes, my king?” She turned.
“Thank you for tonight. For listening to me and allowing me to get it all out.”
It didn't get past her notice that he was thanking her a lot lately. “You needed it. I truly hope that the mistress gets all the help she needs.”
Her head bobbed in acknowledgment.
At the foot of the bed, Danika unwrapped the bedsheet from her body until she stood gloriously naked at the foot of the bed. She could feel his eyes burning holes in her body, but she didn't turn back to confirm if he was looking at her. She got into bed and wrapped the bed sheet over her body. “Good night,” she repeated impulsively.
King Lucien knew the time she settled into sleep. He turned away from the window and watched the even rise and fall of her body in breathing. Then he walked back to his table and lowered himself behind it. Picking up the unfinished scroll, he stared at it. His heart tightened in his chest, and he was also having a little difficulty breathing as he read the wording again.
Vetta's words banged at the back of his mind.
“As a slave master who had been a slave before, you forgot the most important thing. A slave will do anything at all to come out of slavery, including...faking kindness. Faking to be good. And the most important? Pretending to love your master. You know what I say is the truth. No, you fear what I say will be the truth. That is why you're so hesitant to uncollar her.”
“What else is holding you? You and I know it's no longer about her father or about revenge. Uncollar her then and give her back her free will. Then we will see if she will still choose you. If she will still choose to be with you. Let's see if she doesn't run away and never come back!”
His eyes closed to keep the words away.
The ruffling of papers filled the air as he unwrapped a new scroll, spread it out in front of him and continued his writings.
Several hours later, he stood exhausted, but he was done writing. Silent footsteps walked to the bed, and he got in behind her, careful not to wake her from sleep.
He gathered her into his arms, and she sighed in her sleep, melting against him. He stayed awake most of the night, watching her sleep.